All Blog Posts Tagged 'exposure' - Home Energy Pros2016-12-09T13:51:46Zhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blog/feed?tag=exposure&xn_auth=noThe Five Disadvantages of Solar Power Againtag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-03-21:6069565:BlogPost:805112012-03-21T05:30:00.000ZDon Ameshttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/DonAmes
<p>Does Solar Power Have Disadvantages? How Can Anyone Say This About Renewable Energy?</p>
<p>Posted by Tom Delconte on <a href="http://www.homeenergypros.lbl.gov">www.homeenergypros.lbl.gov</a></p>
<p>Comments by Don Ames, <a href="http://www.detectenergy.com">www.detectenergy.com</a></p>
<p>Tom posted the 5 "disadvantages" listed below. I did not agree with the list so I thought I would post them as Tom did and then add my comments below each one. Be sure and join the discussion by posting…</p>
<p>Does Solar Power Have Disadvantages? How Can Anyone Say This About Renewable Energy?</p>
<p>Posted by Tom Delconte on <a href="http://www.homeenergypros.lbl.gov">www.homeenergypros.lbl.gov</a></p>
<p>Comments by Don Ames, <a href="http://www.detectenergy.com">www.detectenergy.com</a></p>
<p>Tom posted the 5 "disadvantages" listed below. I did not agree with the list so I thought I would post them as Tom did and then add my comments below each one. Be sure and join the discussion by posting your own ideas in the comment section below.</p>
<p>And by the way, thanks Tom, this looks like fun.</p>
<p>1. It's intermittent. Solar energy is only available when the sun is shining.</p>
<p>This is partially true. Some solar energy passes through the clouds. Solar panels produce some electricity even on very cloudy days. Intermittent is what powers net-zero homes. In the winter, the solar collectors capture less energy than the home is using. In the summer, the solar collectors can produce more energy than the home uses. At the end of a year, the home produces as much energy as it uses. Net-zero is good.</p>
<p>Batteries store solar power. Charge up the batteries on the sunny days and use that stored energy when the sun is hard to find. Many of the urban folks that are living without the grid, cloudy days and batteries get the job done.</p>
<p><br/> Tom is right, solar energy is reduced when the sun is behind a cloud or on the other side of the world. But, I hesitate to call this a disadvantage that diminishes the importance and significance of solar energy.</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/rVx*1Z8mqxpm6nrKQyAED3prFCiB21kF2beBBQ4k4vnPZ7l8CDx16udvN6vM4jmLGjbQMQka-4G-HiUK2TykdQDYfAxwU5CF/passive8.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/rVx*1Z8mqxpm6nrKQyAED3prFCiB21kF2beBBQ4k4vnPZ7l8CDx16udvN6vM4jmLGjbQMQka-4G-HiUK2TykdQDYfAxwU5CF/passive8.jpg" class="align-right" width="275"/></a>2. It's low efficiency. It requires large areas of land.</p>
<p>No it doesn't, all it takes is the roof of the house you already have covering up a bit of land. Come to think of it, the garage roof and the patio roof and the pergola roof are all sitting there hoping to be used for something other than contaminating our lakes and streams with washed off asphalt.</p>
<p>Here's a good idea, cover all the asphalt roofs with solar panels so we don't have to replace those wonderful asphalt roofs so often. Anything with the word asphalt in it is not good.</p>
<p>It is true that if we put large solar arrays across the ground they would cover large areas of land. So far, with the larger ground mounted arrays I am familiar with, they are on ground not much good for anything else anyway. Like the one in the buffer strip of the freeway.</p>
<p>Considering just efficiency, without the land part, solar collectors are not the most efficient things in the world. Most solar panels are considered to be about 15% efficient. But, this is getting better all the time. Some panels have achieved over 20% efficiency.</p>
<p>To cheer me up after thinking about the low efficiency, I just think about that 600 horsepower diesel engine blowing black smoke as it pulls another load of coal out of the ground.</p>
<p><br/> <a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/bqhQjhHtJe7j1XmgIPJUtesoQzH6piJg1TpLIlpaCyVdCMmUv57GDZX16PkDq7dG0Y9*9fv-FjU1tDq8E45JawuEqvMA4LM1/tarsands2.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/bqhQjhHtJe7j1XmgIPJUtesoQzH6piJg1TpLIlpaCyVdCMmUv57GDZX16PkDq7dG0Y9*9fv-FjU1tDq8E45JawuEqvMA4LM1/tarsands2.jpg" class="align-right" width="285"/></a>3. It's not completely free of environmental impact. Ultrapure polysilicon is now scarce.</p>
<p>So we will focus mirrors on a tower of water and let the solar energy run a steam engine. If polysilicon is a problem, focus the sun on plan "B".</p>
<p>I wonder which scarce product we should rightfully pursue more of - polysilicon of crude oil? I believe I have heard that we are about to manufacture our own polysilicon, grow it, like we will someday be able to grow a new arm or eyeball.</p>
<p>I actually enjoy the results when something gets scarce. Oil gets scarce and an electric or hybrid car can be found in just about any parking lot in town.</p>
<p>Environmental impact - long live Ultrapure Polysilicon and down with coal, oil, hydro, and uranium.</p>
<p><br/> <a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/72W6*t*ZA*OEq6WwDI72PADv*0RdOWuw*v5zFWKFH17U*ye46ninQx6ap5YSE20smfMF-Yb3p693WOQXiQ0yUVVbPHJdX3OU/funding2.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/72W6*t*ZA*OEq6WwDI72PADv*0RdOWuw*v5zFWKFH17U*ye46ninQx6ap5YSE20smfMF-Yb3p693WOQXiQ0yUVVbPHJdX3OU/funding2.jpg" class="align-right" width="234"/></a>4. It's high cost.</p>
<p>Payback periods in dollars and cents range from about 15 years to 25 years. With recent incentives and tax credits, out-of-pocket on a $18,000 array could be as low as $6,000.</p>
<p>Fortunately, renewable energy is not a dollars and cents business. Anything that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and uranium is priceless. How much are you willing to pay for solar power? How much are you willing to pay for clean water and fresh air?</p>
<p>Here's an idea, take everybody's tax refund and put it in an account reserved for renewable energy. Couple years down the road, America has a whole bunch of clean energy. Households all over the place have an investment in lower electric bills.</p>
<p>Oh, ya, American made panels only! Wow, just think of the jobs!</p>
<p><br/> 5. You must climb your roof to wash it off. Just ask Ed Begley, Jr.!</p>
<p>In the rain forest of the Northwest, the average day keeps the solar panels clean without getting up on the roof. Recommended cleaning frequency - once a year - that's not too bad. In the interest of clean energy, let's not let getting up on the roof once-a-year, or Ed Begley be a deterrent.</p>
<p>Got a bad roof for climbing around on, here's a few ideas:</p>
<p>1. Put the solar panels on the ground, porch, garage, dog house, etc.</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/3j-fxs5mPM0uW*zpNv93TKzbJDf03vv0F4B8wuXHEePkOO9ujNU7r5sMgCOWYNYW2Nu9UhR9Y7hU1UtWyAvSqJwgSW87uWI2/wash.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/3j-fxs5mPM0uW*zpNv93TKzbJDf03vv0F4B8wuXHEePkOO9ujNU7r5sMgCOWYNYW2Nu9UhR9Y7hU1UtWyAvSqJwgSW87uWI2/wash.jpg" class="align-right" width="259"/></a>2. Put the solar panels on the neighbors house or in the neighbors yard.</p>
<p>3. Put the solar panels on open ground on the edge of town by investing in the community solar farm.</p>
<p>4. Have all the people on your street get-to-together and rent a high-lift platform and wash all the solar panels on the street or community in one day. Community picnic to follow.</p>
<p>5. Hire the neighborhood, out-of-work, out-of-school, teenager to get up on the roof.</p>
<p>6. Get a building contractor to construct a opening in the roof just above the solar panels. Go up through the attic, stand in the new opening and clean the panels. Hose and long handled, soft broom needed.</p>
<p>7. Don't wash the panels. The heck with Begley. Just how dirty can a solar panel get while sitting on a roof 40 feet off the ground? No dusty roads around, right! The panels will still be making clean energy even if you don't manage to clean them.</p>
<p>There you have it - my response to Tom's five things that are disadvantages of solar Power. I bet Ol' Tom was just kidding, he just wanted to get people like me stirred up a little. After all, the more we think and learn about Solar Power, the better it gets. Net-zero is good, one of my goals, and solar power will play a prominent role.</p>
<p>Thank you for stopping bye Detect Energy, hope you will come back soon, but I won't leave the light on for you...</p>Solar Power Panel and the Pergolatag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2011-11-27:6069565:BlogPost:692962011-11-27T18:20:28.000ZDon Ameshttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/DonAmes
<h2>Getting the Most out of Your Pergola, Think Solar Power Panel</h2>
<p>by Don Ames, <a href="http://www.detectenergy.com">www.detectenergy.com</a></p>
<p>Sitting in a meeting the other day, I was listening to a discussion on where to put half-a-million dollars worth of<strong> solar power panels</strong>. The discussion considered placing panels on roofs, on picnic shelters, and carports - it's not easy trying to find a place for a bunch of solar panels. After all, there are things to keep…</p>
<h2>Getting the Most out of Your Pergola, Think Solar Power Panel</h2>
<p>by Don Ames, <a href="http://www.detectenergy.com">www.detectenergy.com</a></p>
<p>Sitting in a meeting the other day, I was listening to a discussion on where to put half-a-million dollars worth of<strong> solar power panels</strong>. The discussion considered placing panels on roofs, on picnic shelters, and carports - it's not easy trying to find a place for a bunch of solar panels. After all, there are things to keep in mind like <a title="solar power panels" href="http://detectenergy.com/solar-wind-power-2/solar-power-information/">sun exposure</a>, roof wear and tear, vandalism, and roof space.</p>
<p>I was in favor of simply building more carports - cars like to park out of the rain and out of the sun and it seemed like a good idea to have the solar panels contribute more than just electricity. The panels could contribute shade and weather protection. Work a little at positioning the parking areas and the carports to receive the most sun and call it good.</p>
<p>At some point, around the discussion table, the term <a title="Solar power panel" href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/pergola/3352816" target="_blank">Pergola</a> was used. I have not heard that word often and was not sure just what this Pergola thing was. I will admit, I was immediately in favor of the idea, even before I was aware of the true definition. The term "Pergola" just sounds nice and friendly, along with sounding sophisticated - like Italian opera, you know, water everywhere, a neat little boat and a singing Italian.</p>
<p>Now, who wouldn't want solar panels on something that sounds so inviting. Just the sound of it, a Pergola with <a title="solar power panels" href="http://detectenergy.com/solar-wind-power-2/solar-news-trade-war-china/">solar panels</a>, right there in the back yard, has to be good.</p>
<p>Shortly after the meeting, I researched Pergola on the internet and summoned up a few pictures. Basically, I was somewhat disappointed. I live in the rain forest of the Northwest and the second I saw all the lumber that was left out in the rain, all I could see was moisture damaged wood that was going to need to be replaced or repainted. Most Pergola's pictured had parts of the roof framing sticking out in the weather. Not a good, rain forest, design. I even found a bunch of pictures with solar panels already on a Pergola. Hey, that's my idea!</p>
<p>Seems a Pergola is more like a partial shade covering. Something built out of heavy timbers that doesn't have siding and doesn't have a roof that will totally keep out either the sun or the rain. My first thought was that a Pergola is good for about three things.</p>
<p>1. Looking nice until the weather has a chance to make it look not-so-nice.</p>
<p>2. Providing partial shade for a garden or a quiet cup of tea, about once a year.</p>
<p>3. Allowing a vine maple to climb all over it until you dread the thought of having to trim all those vines.</p>
<p>But now we've got something new to consider - something that will make the Pergola a whole lot more useful - something that I am sure the Italians have already thought of. After all, the Italians are really big on solar power. Italy has one of the highest concentrations of residential solar power in the world.</p>
<h3>Install Solar Power Panels on a Pergola!</h3>
<div class="mceTemp"><dl id="attachment_15086" class="wp-caption alignright">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://detectenergy.com/solar-wind-power-2/solar-power-panel-pergola/attachment/pergola-12/" rel="attachment wp-att-15086"><img class="size-full wp-image-15086" title="solar power panel" src="http://detectenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pergola-12.jpg" width="234" height="216"/></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Pergola with Class</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Don't let the Pergola go to waste, I suspect many have been constructed with the plans of having one picnic and one cup-of-tea after another under the shade of the see-through roof. Problem is, life goes too fast and the picnics and tea time get cut back until they're few and far between. After the initial love affair wears off, all that is left is a Pergola that needs a new paint job. But, what about putting solar panels on the roof of the Pergola.</p>
<p>This is the type of commitment to clean, renewable power that we need. You want a Pergola, design it so it fits your yard and sits in the sun most of the day. Design the roof trusses so the solar panels attach with ease. Design the solar panel layout to cover all those roof truss tails so you don't have to repaint so often. (especially if you live in a rain forest.)</p>
<p>The solar panel roof can either be rain proof or not. For a little more expense, you can install a nice clean metal roof and then attach the solar panels to the ribs of the metal roof. Now when you want to have a cup of tea in the yard, you can have it in the shade of the Pergola and dream about all the power your producing instead of thinking about how badly those roof trusses need to be repainted.</p>
<p>Don' t sit under your stylish Pergola watching the vine maple takeover the integrity of the structure. Sit under the Pergola and listen to the faint hum of the DC Watt Inverter changing all those Watts to clean, renewable, AC Power.</p>
<p>Thanks for stopping by Detect Energy, hope you'll come back soon, but I won't leave the light on for you...</p>
<p>More from Don Ames and Detect Energy at <a href="http://www.detectenergy.com">www.detectenergy.com</a></p>
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